High mark-up rates, delayed sugarcane payments, failure marketing system corrupt practices of Bank officials, costly petroleum and power prices, non-availability of water, exploitation by middleman, haughty attitude of stockists and discriminatory dealings of financial institutions are hampering agricultural progress and erecting stumbling-blocks in the path of farming community already depressed by shenanigans of revenue department.
This consensus was emerged from the speeches made by Farmers and Agriculture stakeholders in Kissan Mela function held in Korian Village of Jhang District arranged by National Bank of Pakistan under the supervision of State Bank of Pakistan.
Earlier, Chief guest Dr Muhammad Saleem, Chief Manager, SBP inaugurated and visited the stalls erected by all the Commercial Banks, agriculture implements and dealers of pesticide firms and expressed satisfaction over the information as well as advancements shared by the companies with peasants.
While presenting welcome address, Regional Business Chief NBP, Tahir shahbaz Anjum said that journey from Bullock to Tractor had come to an end and now farming people are heading towards modern methods of agriculture like Tunnel farming, Drip Irrigation and EM Technology to bring about revolution in country.
Being a backbone of economy, prosperity of agriculture sector is on the priority of SPB efforts of enhancing per acre yield. He said that farmer festivals were an integral part of our rural cultural and caused dissemination of information about agri inputs along with day to day advancements in manufacturing sector.
He added that basic objective of the Kissan Mela was to give an opportunity to tillers of land learning modern use of agri tools and to avail of that event under one roof provided by Financial Institutions. Scientist Dr Ihsan Ullah said that Kissan Mela would also be organised by the Agriculture University on 24th March where all the Agri stakeholders will be invited to display their inventions and products.
In his presidential address, Chief Manager SBP, Dr Muhammad Saleem said that under the strict regulatory control of SBP, one window loan disbursement operations by all the banks were continuing at Tehsil level in the country and time is not far when this facility would be provided with every farmer at Union Council Level across the country.
He informed the participants that State Bank had initiated pilot projects Phase-I in Sindh province on March 15, 2007 under which Rs 3.9 billion agri loans were disbursed to thirteen thousand land holders and under pilot project Phase-II Rs 7.5 billion will be advanced in the fourteen backward Districts of Punjab and Rs 500 million had been distributed amongst farmers.
He said that to facilitate farmers, SBP has minimised mark up rates from the last year and gradually brining interest rates to lower level. He said SBP had de-monopolised five country-vide scheduled Banks and extended Banking services to the people at grassroots level with the help of establishment of more than ten thousand branches of different banks.
SBP had offered two options to the public to adopt traditional or Islamic Banking. On the one hand, SBP is imparting training to Banking Officials with regard to facilitating farmers and on the other hand, Kissan Festivals, Financial Melas are being arranged to share information with peasants about Agri Technology Developments. He said our real enemy is future food security threat and if we are to avert this menace then prosperity of agri sector should be on our top most priority.
In the light of farmer's complaints against different Banking Officials, CM, SBP advised the farmers to contact him directly on 041-9200444 for the redressel of their grievances within no time. He announced the establishment of one window operation loan facility at Bagh Village District Jhang demanded by farmers. He also visited Hafiz Model Agri Farm apprising him of Tomato, Cucumber and Green Pepper crops through tunnel farming methods being prepared within two months short period.